Comments on EJ Rule Proposal Available
Participation Opportunities
TOMORROW: Department of Labor
Environmental Justice Stakeholder Listening Session
December 9th, 11am (ET)
The US Department of Labor is updating its Environmental Justice Strategy and solicitating feedback on how they could improve services and better serve environmental justice communities. Interested persons are invited to provide oral feedback during this listening session.
Upcoming Administrative Order 2021-25 Public Hearings
TODAY: December 8 - Covanta Camden, Camden County (virtual)
December 14 - Infineum USA LP, Union County (virtual)
January 11- SIMS Metal, Hudson County (virtual)
Facilities subject to the Environmental Justice Law and the Administrative Order 2021-25 must facilitate meaningful opportunities for overburdened communities to engage in permitting decisions for pollution-generating facilities through an enhanced public participation process.
Comment Opportunities
DEP Invites Public Comment on Settlement from Former
Ciba-Geigy Chemical Plant in Toms River
DEP will accept public comment on the proposal until 30 days from the published date (December 5th).
Commissioner LaTourette announced a proposal to restore natural resources damaged by decades of industrial pollution and illegal dumping at the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site in Toms River through a negotiated settlement with BASF Corporation, the successor to the Ciba-Geigy Chemical Corporation. Under the proposal, approximately 1,000 acres would be permanently preserved for the benefit of the public, with hundreds of acres to be restored through a variety of ecological improvement projects.
EPA is seeking comment on funding programs for: fence line monitoring; multipollutant monitoring; air quality sensors; clean air act grants; air pollution at schools; methane monitoring; and emissions from wood heaters.
EPA also recently issued Requests for Information for the following four programs:
-
Clean Heavy-Duty vehicle grant program provides $1 B for Class 6/7 EVs and workforce development. Comments due Jan 18.
-
Port grant program which provides $3 B for purchase of zero emission technology at ports. Comments due Jan 18.
-
Climate Pollution Reduction grant program which allocates $5 B to make and implement GHG reduction plans. Comments due Jan 18.
Funding Opportunities
Murphy Administration Announces More Than $8 Million to Build a Diverse, Inclusive Green Jobs Sector
Governor Phil Murphy’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy (OCAGE) and DEP announced the release of a Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) to support pilot programs to build a diverse, inclusive green workforce. Through the Building our Resilient, Inclusive, and Diverse Green Economy (NJ BRIDGE) initiative, a total of $5 million is available to fund scalable projects to support residents in the green workforce with a focus on engagement in overburdened communities.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will begin accepting applications on December 8 for a competitive grant program that will help New Jerseyans, particularly those in overburdened communities, develop skills for offshore wind careers. The $3.725 million Offshore Wind Workforce and Skills Development Grant Challenge (Grant Challenge) will offer grants to selected entities that will aid in launching or expanding workforce training and skills programs focused on strengthening and diversifying New Jersey’s offshore wind workforce.
Respondents are invited to submit proposals in response to this solicitation.
Multiple US Environmental Protection Agency Recycling
Infrastructure and Outreach Grants Available
The Biden-Harris administration announced the availability of grants to support recycling infrastructure and education and outreach grants. The new grant programs support improvements to local waste management systems and recycling education and outreach, meeting Congress’ goal to create a stronger, more resilient, and cost-effective U.S. municipal solid waste recycling system. The full press release for the announcement can be found online and applications are due by January 16, 2023.
New Funding for Nationwide Brownfields Technical Assistance, Research Grants, and Technical Assistance to Brownfields Providers
Last week, the US EPA announced Requests for Applications for $57 million in funding that is available for two new Brownfields technical assistance opportunities:
- Brownfields Technical Assistance and Research cooperative agreements, and
- Technical Assistance to Brownfields communities.
Applications for both funding opportunities are due by February 14, 2023. The Request for Application notices are now posted on the FY2023 Application Resources for Brownfields Technical Assistance page.
NJDEP Commissioner LaTourette Highlights Clean Water Investments
In an Op-Ed published in NJ.com, NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette highlighted DEP's efforts to ensure every community has safe drinking water. NJ communities face many challenges to obtain consistent clean drinking water, such as aging infrastructure, PFAS and other forever chemical contamination, lead service lines that need to be removed, and more.
DEP launched the Water Infrastructure Investment Plan which is bringing critical water and sewer projects to communities across the Garden State. Additionally, DEP is partnering with the NJ Infrastructure Bank to leverage these offerings with private market funds. For more information about how to apply for the water infrastructure funding available, please visit this website.
|
All New Jersey residents, regardless of income, race, ethnicity, color, or national origin, have a right to live, work, and recreate in a clean and healthy environment. Historically, New Jersey’s low-income communities and communities of color face a disproportionately high number of environmental and public health stressors and, as a result, suffer from increased adverse health effects. New Jersey seeks to correct these outcomes by furthering the promise of environmental justice.
DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) aims to improve the quality of life in New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities by educating and empowering communities who are often outside of government decision-making processes and guiding DEP’s programs and other state departments and agencies in implementing environmental justice.
|
|
